Murder hearing delayed until April

Posted: Thursday, March 27, 2008

An Oconee County Magistrate Court judge postponed a preliminary hearing today in the murder case against a Bogart man accused of the Feb. 25 shooting death of a motorcyclist who followed his daughters home.

The hearing, in which Judge Eric Norris will decide if there's enough evidence to support the murder charge, was rescheduled for April 18, a court clerk said. Prosecuting and defense attorneys asked for more time to prepare, the clerk said.

Richard Harold "Ricky" Gear, 46, claimed self-defense in shooting 21-year-old Bryan Joseph "B.J." Mough of Winder, authorities said. Gear's daughters told deputies they called their father to say Mough was chasing them and had intentionally rammed their car after one of the sisters made an obscene gesture.